Question about Baker's MBA Program

Hi, I was planning on going to Walden for my MBA but the price is making me think twice and it will take a little longer than I have time for (I move in the summer of 2007 and want to be finished before that). I have applied for Baker's MBA program and was wondering if anyone can tell the length of that program?

Thanks

 

There was a fairly recent thread on the Baker MBA which should have a lot of good information. And it is here: http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=23012 .

 

I am currently undergoing facilitating training at Baker College and it seems to be a pretty well organized institution. I will be teaching international Business 401 when I complete the training.

 

Geriinak,

I am looking into the Baker program right now also. I am looking for a MBA which offers a healthcare management/administration concentration (or a MS in Healthcare Admin) and although I thought I had narrowed my search down to 3 schools, as mentioned in this thread - Baker online wasn't even on the radar, as I hadn't heard anything about them.

When I heard of the Baker MBA and started finding out about their progrmas (6 week classes, no GMAT required for entry, are Regionallly Accredited, cost under $15k for total program, can be completed in 18 months, offer several concentrations including healthcare administration and is an online program from a bricks and mortar institution) I realized this checked all the boxes of the criteria I set myself, and offered a few advantages, especially the 6 week classes and 18 month completion time.

I also got some positive feedback from others on this Board on the Baker program, which is reassuring - see the above link which Ted already posted.

I'm really having problems narrowing my own "shortlist" down, to making a decision. I really like the University of Colorado - Colorado Springs program - it's AACSB accredited and is from a well recognized school, but they requrie a GMAT, may also require some preparatory courses and the program takes longer to complete than it would with Baker.

My dilema at present is "to GMAT or not to GMAT". If I decide that I want to go to UCCS then I need to go ahead and sit the GMAT. If I want to skip the GMAT then I'd probably go with Baker Online's MBA or St Joseph's College of Maine's MS in Healthcare Management.

Please post to let me, and others, know what you decide regarding Baker Online.

 

Texascot - The GMAT really isn't a big deal - a few hours and a few dollars is a small price to pay. I'm not sure why folks here are so concerned about taking it. I've been connected with Baker for the past 10 years and while it is a solid program among DL schools, I'd give serious consideration to an AACSB program like Colorado. I suspect you'll see a genuine difference in the caliber of the students and faculty.

Regards - Andy

 

Thanks Andy,

The GMAT seems like an "extra step" which I'd rather do without.

when looking at a graduate education involving a $20k investment, several hundred hours of studying and possibly a key factor in my future career, I know the relatively small amount of time and money spent on the GMAT would be well spent and shouldn't really be only factor to cause me to discount a school which requires a GMAT.

I'm not sure whether my uncertainty is due to me trying to cut corners or if its due to the fact I've not thought about trigonometry etc. for at least ten years!

 

I too refused to take the GMAT when I started looking at DL schools. I guess that I simply do not buy into the supposed benefit of an AACSB accredited program.

My own experiences with DL schools include Capella and Bellevue. At Capella I graduated with a graduate certificate in Information Technology Management. The Capella program was good, the caliber of the students and faculty varied. Students that were in my classes included a Senior Managing Director at Medtronics managing a 300 member organization and project managers at Boeing. Most of the instructors had substantial industry experience and had a mix of B&M and DL degrees, and yes some were from AACSB accredited programs. When judging instructors I tend to think of the exchange between Rodney Dangerfield and his buisness professor in the film "Back to School". I prefer instructors with actual experience instead of being purely academic.

Although I'm only in my second class, I find Bellevue Universities format more enjoyable and challanging than Capella. I am currently in the MBA program and take one 12 week class at a time. I prefer 12 week classes as opposed to Baker's 6 week classes. I feel that I need the 12 weeks to get all that I can from the material presented. I also like the proctored tests that Bellevue requires. The two instructors that I've had have different backgrounds, one with over 40 years of business experience and the other a PhD graduate of Texas A&M (B&M) in Industrial Engineering whose been with Bellevue for 15+ years. My classmates at Bellevue are also very interesting having either substantial mid level management backgrounds or small business experience.

What I'm simply trying to say is that my experience with DL learning has been a positive one. Both students and instructors have the experience, backgrounds, and maturity that I respect and learn from. That's all that is important to me and I suspect most mature students searhing for a DL education.

 

I have been looking at Baker considering their online MBA in Leadership Studies. Looks like a good comprehensive program. Has anyone on the forum started this program? If so, can you give a brief assessment of weekly assignments and time involved?

 

The GMAT is not a hard exam, and if circumstances change you will have the exam done and can use your scores for five years from completion date.

William

 

I can speak for one of the required classes that I've taught in the past. In general, Baker does require student to participate in class five days out of seven. They also have a "Portfolio" requirement such that you will have to write a paper (typically 10 pages or so) for each class. These are then consolidated into a portfolio at the end of the program. Beyond this requirements will vary by class.

In the sections of Research and Statistics that I have taught, students have 3 statistics homework assignments, an article reivew, the portfolio project and a final exam. It is a busy six weeks. Also, this class is the first class in the program - you must take it before you take other classes. I've heard from students that economics and accounting are also pretty challenging - but I can't tell you how this is so or how hard any other courses are.

Regards - Andy

 

I've heard from students that economics and accounting are also pretty challenging - but I can't tell you how this is so or how hard any other courses are.

Andy:

I have to say, I agree. I am currently a Baker student working on my Bachelor's in Health Services Administration. Accounting, Micro- and Macroeconomics were the most challenging classes I've taken thus far. It was truly a lot of information encode and digest in six weeks. However, I truly enjoy my studies at Baker and think it's a great school. Although my course load is intense, I am learning quite a lot on all levels. It also helps with my working in health care for the last ten years.

 

I like Baker College alot, I was considering entering Baker before I ran into Degree Info. I will say my Wife is a current student at Baker, in the BBA-accounting(she is a pyscho she takes 2 classes a 6 week term and works as a controller full-time). I can say she is busier than a one legged man in a marathon. I'm not sure most people could handle this load but she finds the work challeging.

If some one is considering an MBA and has GMAT Aversion issues(Yes, I lived through it) I'd recommend they look at Texas A&M-Commerce(TAMU-Commerce) and University Of Wyoming(Uof W) both are AACSB accredited. TAMU-Commerce waives the GMAT if your GPA is over 2.75 and U of W's executive MBA does not require it.

Texas A&M-Commerce
http://www7.tamu-commerce.edu/graduateprograms/Programs/online.asp

Univeristy of Wyoming
http://outreach.uwyo.edu/occ/onlinemaster.htm

 

I like Baker College alot, I was considering entering Baker before I ran into Degree Info. I will say my Wife is a current student at Baker, in the BBA-accounting(she is a pyscho she takes 2 classes a 6 week term and works as a controller full-time). I can say she is busier than a one legged man in a marathon. I'm not sure most people could handle this load but she finds the work challeging.

Tim:

I'm in the same boat as your wife in terms of course load. I take, on average, three class per quarter, but have taken as many as four. All of my friends think I'm nuts. I've slowed down a bit, but not too much. I also work full-time, so I'm pretty busy more so than not. However, I do manage my time effectively. (Trust, I had to learn the hard way).

 

I am currently a Baker MBA student in the health management concentration. Andy's description of the program is right on the mark, and Research and Statistics has been one of the two most intense classes I've taken at Baker (the other was Marketing). In fact, Andy was one of the authors of the text the my Stats professor ("Statistical Bill" Livingston) used during the course. It's a small world. Anyway, for all of the other classes I've taken you will have a 10-12 page APA format paper due at the end, and each week will require reading from the text, posting answers to discussion questions by Saturday, Posting answers to case study questions by Monday, and a weekly summary paper due on Wednesday. All of this is on top of class participation of at least two substantial posts for five of the seven days in a week. The pressure to perform is constant, but the classes are over in six weeks, so I find I can bear it. Good luck with your MBA search!

 

BAKER will not accept NA degree

An interesting reply I received from Baker College regarding admittance to grad school.

"In regards to your question:

I see that Columbia Southern University is nationally
accredited through the Distance Education and Training
Council. Therefore, unfortunately, this degree will not
qualify you for our graduate program."

Further, Baker College will use the following guidelines as
indicators of potential for acceptance into the program for
each individual that applies:

1. Possess a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited
institution.
2. Have a 2.5 or better GPA (4.0 Scale) in undergraduate
work.
3. Having completed no less than three years of full-time
work experience.
4. Be able to display appropriate communication skills.

In cases where there is insufficient evidence of probable
success, the graduate school may require the student to take
specific undergraduate courses until the student has
demonstrated an ability to succeed at the graduate level.

Once submitted, the student’s completed application packet
will be reviewed by the Admissions Review Committee. The
committee will carefully consider the complete package and
make a decision on that basis. The committee may recommend
admission of a student who is lacking in one standard, such
as undergraduate GPA, if the student demonstrates
outstanding performance indicators in other areas.

Once again, thank you for your inquiry. If you have any
further questions you may find our website helpful,
http://bakercollegeonline.com. However, please do not
hesitate to contact me at 1-800-469-3165.

Regards,

Gretchen Williams
Development Coordinator
Baker Online
Center for Graduate Studies
1116 W. Bristol Rd.
Flint, MI 48507
Fax 810-766-2051
1-800-469-3165

I was under the assumption that Baker would accept NA undergrad degrees. Interesting!

 

I'm 99% certain that Baker is for me. I like the format, quick completion and the healthcare concentration option.
I'm not yet ready to apply, but hopefully in a few weeks once things calm down work-wise, I'll go ahead and get the ball rolling.